PM Abiy Ahmed: Ethiopia looking for solutions to accessing sea

ADDIS ABABA - Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has for the first time spoken publicly about his intentions to access the sea, noting that his country just like many other landlocked nations, is struggling ecologically due to the absence of clear gateways.

The Horn of Africa nation depends entirely on the Port of Djibouti for imports and exports but is exploring options for reducing costs. Initially, there were plans to use the Port of Sudan and Lamu in Kenya but the decision was dropped due to logistical challenges.

Since then, Ethiopia has been courting Somaliland, a breakaway region of Somalia, which has now agreed to lease 20 kilometers of Red Sea for 50 years, which will allow Addis Ababa to establish a Naval Base. There are claims that Ethiopia could also construct a port.

During a meeting in Uganda for the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), Abiy Ahmed maintained that he will not be swayed by pressure from several quarters, noting that he's ready to solve challenges his landlocked country is facing through mutual understanding.

"In my remarks today during the 19th Summit of Heads of State and Government of the non-aligned movement, I reiterated that landlocked countries face insurmountable challenges hindering their ability to fulfill the demands of their people for adequate and sustained livelihoods and to ensure their development," he said.

"Ethiopia continues to seek a peaceful and mutually beneficial and negotiated solution to such a challenge," added Ahmed, who has been accused of instigating chaos and instability within the Horn of Africa.

Somalia has threatened to go to war with Ethiopia, accusing Addis Ababa of plotting to grab 'our land'. The president of Somalia Hassan Sheikh Mohamud is moving across the world, looking for support, while insisting Somalia will not hesitate to take weapons against Addis Ababa over annexation plans.

Currently, Hassan Sheikh is in Egypt following an official invitation by President Abdelfattah Elsisi, who has also been having issues with Ethiopia over the construction of the Grand Renaissance Dam along the Blue Nile. Ethiopia is also battling with internal wrangles and ethnic clashes.

GAROWE ONLINE